LOS ANGELES, CA —Los Angeles County's new ban on most gatherings, outdoor-dining and strict capacity limits on most businesses went into effect in Hollywood Monday.
Here's what you need to know about the new orders:
WHY?
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are soaring in Los Angeles County along with much of the state. At the current rate, state health officials anticipate running out of staffed ICU beds by mid-December.
On Sunday, the county reported another 5,014 confirmed cases of COVID- 19 and 16 additional deaths, bringing the county's totals to 395,843 cases and 7,639 fatalities.
Even more concerning was the continued rise in hospitalizations, which reached 2,049 on Sunday, reaching its highest point since summer. Health officials have repeatedly noted that current hospitalizations reflect infections that actually occurred two to three weeks earlier, meaning the continued surge in cases will lead to even higher hospitalization numbers in the ensuing weeks, potentially surpassing the ability of hospitals to treat patients.
According to county estimates released last week, every COVID-19 patient in the county is passing the virus to an average of 1.27 people -- the highest transmission rate the county has seen since March, before any safety protocols such as face coverings and social distancing were in place.
Based on that transmission rate, health officials estimate one of every 145 people in the county are now infected with the virus and transmitting it to others.
"This doesn't include people that are currently hospitalized or isolated at home," county Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly said. "This is the estimate of people that are out and about and infecting others. They may not know they're infected. They may know they're infected and not be isolating. But they're out there and they're exposing other people to the virus."
WHEN?
The county's three-week stay-home orders took effect Monday and are expected to last through December 20. However, health officials warned that even more stringent shutdown orders could be in store if new cases and hospitalizations continue to spike.
WHAT DO THE NEW ORDERS DO?
Designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus by limiting the interaction between people of different households, the tightened health restrictions Monday, including a ban on most gatherings and strict capacity limits on most businesses, while forcing closures of playgrounds and card rooms.
It bars all public and private gatherings with people of multiple households, except for constitutionally protected outdoor church services and protests. It also sets occupancy limits at various businesses, while also mandating face coverings and six feet of physical distancing.
The capacity limits are:
- essential retail: 35% maximum occupancy;
- nonessential retail (includes indoor malls): 20% maximum occupancy;
- personal care services: 20% maximum occupancy;
- libraries: 20% maximum occupancy;
- fitness centers operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy;
- museums galleries, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy; and
- mini-golf, batting cages, go-kart racing operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy.
The order allows most outdoor recreational facilities to remain open, including beaches, trails and parks. But face coverings are required. Also open are golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball, archery ranges, skate parks, bike parks and community gardens, but use is restricted to a single household at a time. Pools that serve more than one household may open only for regulated lap swimming with one person per lane. Drive-in movies/events/car parades are permitted provided occupants in each car are members of one household.
Schools operating with limited numbers of students and day camps can remain open, adhering to reopening protocols. Schools and day camps with an outbreak, defined as three cases or more over 14 days, should close for 14 days. Card rooms are closed, as well as playgrounds, except for those at child care centers and schools.
City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.
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December 01, 2020 at 07:14AM
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